High-tech toilet a mixed bowl in China

Some citizens praise renovated public restrooms in China, others question government spending

BEIJING - Li Wen had heard about the turbo-strength flush power and the lily-scented soap. He knew about the stalls equipped with personal television screens and wireless Internet access, the soothing cello soundtrack and the windows lined with aloe vera plants.

But Li, 39, a salesman, was skeptical when he set foot in the new public toilet at the corner of Fuqian Square in Fangshan, a district in southwest Beijing.

"What was wrong with the old one?" he said. "The government has too much money and doesn't know how to spend it."

Modern technology has changed nearly every facet of life in China in recent years. But public restrooms in many areas have remained largely unchanged, equipped with the same squat toilets and concrete pits that Chinese people have used for generations.

As the government seeks to improve sanitation and reduce environmental waste across the country, it is planning a major overhaul of public toilets. Over the next three years, it will build or renovate 57,000 restrooms, including some that will resemble the high-tech facility in Fangshan - the first of its kind in China.

The idea has won praise from many residents, but it has also brought criticism from those who say high-end toilets are a waste of resources.

"It's just a toilet," said Lei Junying, 74, a retired farmer who lives in Fangshan. "Why do they have to make it such a nice one?"

She added: "The government puts out its hands and asks people to pay taxes. Why don't they donate that money to poor neighborhoods instead?"

The restroom in Fangshan, which includes a separate room with vending machines and an ATM, as well as charging stations for electric cars, has quickly become a popular stop with dozens of people visiting every hour.

Some residents worry that the popularity of the new toilet and the presence of television screens and Wi-Fi will encourage guests to linger too long.

Li Peiling, 39, a dental assistant, grew restless after waiting 5 minutes for a stall. She began to shout at the closed doors.